Social entrepreneurship and international business theory have not been properly introduced. Many authors conducted micro-studies within their field of interest but limited information has been published on the opportunity selection models and entry mode strategies that social entrepreneurs use to venture into foreign countries. The primary purpose of this study was then to introduce these distinct industries to one-another, transferring international business's best practices into the social entrepreneurship arena. The outcome of the study is a Global Social Investment Model that will empower social entrepreneurs and investors with a means to structure their project proposals prior to entering a new country and to highlight problem areas within their existing proposals. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / M.B.L.

Eskom makes a significant contribution to social and economic development in South Africa, which is realised through its corporate social investment policy. Eskom could reinforce its contribution by adopting Integrated Community Economic Development (ICED), which addresses issues of poverty in a holistic way. Nthomang and Rankopo (1997:209) regard (ICED) as “...a holistic approach that seeks to address socio-political constraints preventing marginalised communities from attaining humane standards of living”. The goal of the study was to explore the views held by corporate social investment practitioners’ on Eskom’s contribution to socio-economic projects within a sustainable framework to alleviate poverty and unemployment. The research followed a qualitative approach, and data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews. Participants in the study came from four regions, the Central, Southern, Northern regions and part of the North Western region of Eskom’s terrain. From the key findings, it was evident that Eskom contributes to the social and economic development of communities, but its contribution could be more effective and meaningful if funding policies, partnership involvement, the role played by corporate social investment practitioners’ and community economic development strategies were more closely aligned with an Integrated Community Economic Development approach. The study concluded that the Solertia Institute Model Program for the advancement of capable communities provided a relevant framework that could be adapted as a viable strategy whereby Eskom could contribute to sustainable Integrated Social and Economic Development. The researcher recommends that the Eskom management adopt the proposed strategy as part of Eskom’s corporate social investment policy. Further, the implementation of the respective projects should be aligned with the phases of the Solertia Institute Model Program. Projects should therefore be continuously monitored to assess and evaluate Eskom’s contribution to sustainable Integrated Community Economic Development. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

[pt] Com as transformações ocorridas nos processos produtivos, as grandes corporações passaram a usar suas forças para tentar minimizar os problemas sociais em diversas áreas, e com isso, suprir a carência deixada pelo estado, agregando assim, estrategicamente, valor à empresa por meio do investimento social. Nesse sentido, a presente dissertação tem por finalidade sugerir a utilização da ferramenta financeira de Opções Reais para avaliar a viabilidade de tal investimento corporativo. Para tanto, foi desenvolvido um modelo com Opções Reais, pelo qual se torna possível mensurar, em um projeto social o valor agregado ao aluno beneficiado por esse projeto, levando em consideração todas as escolhas do aluno na sua vida acadêmica e profissional. Por fim, cabe ressaltar que os resultados obtidos não devem ser aceitos como definitivos, e sim como base para futuros trabalhos que possam verificar e validar o uso de Opções Reais para viabilizar o Investimento Social Corporativo. / [en] With the occurred transformations in the productive processes, the great corporations had started to use its forces to try to minimize the social problems in diverse areas, and with this, to supply the lack left by the State, thus adding, strategically, value to the corporation by means of the social investment. In this direction, the present dissertation has the purpose to suggest the use of the financial tool of Real Options to evaluate the viability of such corporative investment. In such a way, a model with Real Options was developed, making it possible to measure, in a social project, the value aggregatedto the student sponsored by this project, taking into account all the choices to be made by him during his whole academic and professinal life. Finally, it fits to stand out that the obtained results do not have to be accepted as definitive, but rather as a base for future works that can verify and validate the use of Real Options in the valuation of Corporative Social Investment.

This thesis examines the relationship between demographic ageing, as captured by temporal, within-country variation in the ratio of elderly to the working-age population – the dependency ratio – on citizens’ support for the welfare state. The research problem is vitally relevant considering the worsening demographic structure of advanced democracies, a process that is having considerable ramifications on the possibilities of financing comprehensive welfare states. Using a time-series cross-sectional design, and building on representative survey data from 13 advanced democracies, the thesis specifically assesses the relationship between the dependency ratio, and individual spending preferences towards 1) the welfare state as a whole, as captured by an additive index, 2) education policy, and 3) old-age benefits. It also assesses whether demographic ageing exacerbates attitude differences between age groups, thereby scrutinising some assumptions made previously on the issue of intergenerational cleavages. The thesis uncovers no significant relationship between the dependency ratio and general support for the welfare state. However, the dependency ratio is shown be positively correlated with citizens’ support for education policy, while being instead potentially negatively correlated with support for old-age benefits. The differences between these two policies, in terms of their enjoyed support, are important considering the presumed shift in welfare state priorities towards what is commonly called social investment. Indeed, they indicate that there may be popular support for the type of reform strategies whose purpose is to invest in tomorrow’s diminishing workforce, whereas the support for more compensatory old-age policies may instead be weakening. There are also signs that the positive effect on the support for education policy is lower among older individuals. This evidence is quite interesting considering the previous expectations of deepening intergenerational cleavages as a consequence of demographic ageing, but the weak indications of this development in previous empirical research.

Sweden is a geographically large and sparsely populated country, with a need for road transport for individuals as well as for logistics. Domestic road transport largely contributes to air pollutions, where passenger cars account for the largest share. Looking ahead, the present rate of reduction of emissions is not enough to reach the climate targets of a fossil free transport sector.  Electric road system (ERS) has emerged to deal with drawbacks of electric vehicles. Several solutions are being evaluated at demonstration projects. Until now, ERS is mainly associated with heavy vehicles and the relation to passenger cars is not as clear, where this study explores the social advantages of ERS and passenger cars.  A case study is conducted, where an ERS implementation between Helsingborg and Malmö as part of the European route E6 in Sweden is modelled. The NPV with an economic lifespan of 20 years and an interest rate of 3.5 percent amounts to 350 MSEK, considered as high profitable. The CO2 emissions of the studied system would be reduced by 102 000 tonnes CO2, corresponding to a decrease of about 60 percent. Looking at the studied system, heavy trucks are contributing to the most impact. Nevertheless, there is great potential for passenger cars utilising ERS to decrease their emissions and fuel costs.  Several semi-structured interviews have been conducted to highlight the prevailing views of ERS and passenger cars and the impact of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for decision-making of transport investments. Several diverse views of ERS and passenger cars exist. ERS is a large investment, where the main need is among heavy vehicles. However, the profitability would increase as the amount of vehicles utilising ERS increases. In a future road transport system, it is possible that several technologies such as ERS, fast chargers and autonomous vehicles could be utilised simultaneous, and complete each other rather than being substitutes. It is conceivable that ERS is planned out of the needs of heavy vehicles, where passenger cars might benefit of the system as well. More passenger cars would likely utilise ERS as it is implemented to a greater extent.  Further, CBA could provide a perception of the investment. However, it does not ensure that the projects are performed or chosen out of highest NPV, since several aspects besides the profitability are considered. Available information of ERS for CBA is yet limited and more data, such as effect relations is needed to facilitate well-founded decisions. In the future, it is likely that CBA of transport investments would become more complex, where several technologies would be considered. The transport sector will most likely alter, and existing assessment methods will presumably be adjusted in line with this. / Sverige är ett geografiskt stort och glesbefolkat land med ett stort behov av vägtransporter för såväl privatpersoner som för logistik. Inrikes vägtransport bidrar i stor utsträckning till luftföroreningar, där personbilar står för den största andelen av utsläppen. Den nuvarande minskningstakten av utsläpp är inte tillräcklig för att nå klimatmålen om en fossilfri transportsektor.  Elvägar (ERS) har utvecklats för att hantera utmaningar med elfordon. Flera lösningar av teknologin testas vid demonstrationsprojekt och hittills är ERS främst förknippat med tunga fordon. Dock är relationen till personbilar inte lika tydlig, där denna studie undersöker de samhälleliga fördelarna med ERS relaterat till personbilar.  En fallstudie har genomförts, där en installation av ERS mellan Helsingborg och Malmö som en del av E6 i Sverige modelleras. Nettonuvärdet med en ekonomisk livslängd på 20 år och en internränta om 3,5 procent uppgår till 350 MSEK, vilket betraktas som hög lönsam. Koldioxidutsläppen från det studerade systemet skulle minskas med 102 000 ton CO2, vilket motsvarar en minskning med drygt 60 procent. Utifrån det studerade systemet bidrar tunga lastbilar till den största inverkan. Likväl finns stor potential för personbilar att nyttja den installerade elvägen för att minska sina utsläpp och bränslekostnader.  Flera semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts för att lyfta fram de rådande synsätten på ERS och personbilar och effekterna av samhällsekonomiska analyser (CBA) vid beslutsfattande av transportinvesteringar. Det finns flera olika synsätt på ERS relaterat till personbilar. ERS är en stor investering, där det största behovet finns bland tunga fordon. Emellertid ökar lönsamheten med antalet fordon som använder systemet. I ett framtida vägtransportsystem är det möjligt att flera teknologier såsom ERS, snabbladdning av elbilar och autonoma fordon utnyttjas samtidigt och används som komplement istället för att ersätta varandra. Det är tänkbart att ERS planeras och installeras utifrån behoven hos tunga fordon, där även personbilar kan dra fördel av systemet. Dessutom är det sannolikt att fler personbilar skulle utnyttja ERS allteftersom det installeras i större utsträckning.  Vidare kan CBA ge en uppfattning om investeringen. Det säkerställer dock inte att projekten genomförs eller väljs utifrån högsta nettonuvärde, eftersom flera aspekter utöver lönsamheten beaktas. Tillgänglig information om ERS för CBA är ännu begränsad och mer data såsom effektsamband behövs för att säkerställa välgrundade beslut. I framtiden är det troligt att CBA av transportinvesteringar blir mer komplexa, där flera tekniker behöver beaktas. Transportsektorn kommer sannolikt att förändras, och befintliga bedömningsmetoder kommer förmodligen att anpassas i linje med detta.

The paper considers the cumulative effect of applying the tools of public – private partnerships and corporate social responsibility while ensuring the existing social economic needs of the socially oriented methods. Proposed interpretation for public-private partnership, as a new environment socio-economic process in the paradigm of social responsibility, considers current forms of state-private partnership, the interrelation of public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility while meeting community needs, describes the competitive advantages of the acquired businesses from the practice of implementing the principles of corporate social responsibility. / В работе рассмотрен совокупный эффект применения инструментов частно – государственного партнерства и корпоративной социальной ответственности при обеспечении существующих общественных потребностей экономическими социально ориентированными методами. Предложена трактовка государственно-частного партнерства, его как новой среды организации социально-экономического процесса в парадигме социальной ответственности, рассмотрены современные формы государственно-частного партнерства, выявлена взаимосвязь государственно-частного партнерства и корпоративной социальной ответственности в процессе удовлетворения общественных потребностей, описаны конкурентные преимущества, приобретаемые бизнес структурами от практики реализации принципов корпоративной социальной ответственности.

Магистерская диссертация раскрывает необходимость осуществления коммерческими банками социально-направленной инвестиционной деятельности и интеграции принципов корпоративной социальной ответственности в их финансовую политику. Исследование направлено на изучение лучших практик в области корпоративной социальной ответственности, выявление проблем, препятствующих развитию данного направления в российском банковском секторе. Диссертация также включает в себя разработку нормативного документа, предлагаемого к использованию ПАО КБ «УБРиР» и позволяющего систематизировать деятельность данного банка в области корпоративной социальной ответственности. / The master's thesis reveals the need for commercial banks to carry out socially-directed investment activities and integrate the principles of corporate social responsibility into their financial policies. The study is aimed at studying the best practices in the field of corporate social responsibility, identifying problems that impede the development of this direction in the Russian banking sector. The thesis also includes the development of a normative document proposed for use by the PJSC «UBRD» and allows to systematize the activities of this bank in the field of corporate social responsibility.

Магистерская диссертация посвящена вопросу оценки социального инвестирования. Целью исследования является разработка проекта социальной направленности в области доставки газа для отдаленного региона России. Автором была предложена конкретная система показателей оценки социальной эффективности проекта в краткосрочной, так и в долгосрочной перспективе. / The master's thesis is devoted to the evaluation of social investment. The aim of the study is to develop a project of social orientation in the field of gas delivery for a remote region of Russia. The author proposed a specific indicator system for assessing the social effectiveness of the project in the short and long term.

In recent years the ideas of good governance and the responsibility of corporate South Africa to contribute to the society in which they operate have become an undeniable part of organisational conception. Indeed, South Africa is considered to be a leader in the field of corporate governance internationally. Forming part of governance practices is Corporate Social Investment (CSI) whereby corporate organisations contribute to causes and societal groupings in need of financial and other assistance. Among these societal groupings that receive support from CSI activities are non-profit organisations (NPOs) that rely on funding from their corporate donors for survival. Based on the exchange of funding and a shared attempt at social development, a relationship between the two parties emerges. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory, corporate organisations, through their CSI activities, and NPOs are stakeholders of each other and a positive relationship between them could strengthen their individual and collective goals. This study explored and described the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs in order to understand the state of the relationship and to critically consider the way in which the relationship is defined, described and measured. First, the relationship was explored by means of partially structured interviews based on well-known relationship indicators where it appeared that the relationship is not only fraught with negative perceptions from both sides, but also where the relationship indicators used to explore the relationship were not entirely suited for the specific context of this relationship. The negative perceptions and inappropriate relationship indicators formed the basis of a theoretical inquiry of literature on CSI, stakeholder relationships and participatory development communication. Subsequently, the partially structured interviews and the literature review informed the design of two corresponding survey questionnaires that could test both findings quantitatively. The results of validity and reliability testing confirmed the qualitative finding that a contextualised measurement is suited for this relationship. A mix of existing and newly formulated items grouped in contextual elements and redefined relationship indicators was used to describe the relationship. A combined analysis of qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the relationship is not as negative as the qualitative research might have suggested (possibly a result of contextualised measurement); but that very specific relational challenges are present and it is suggested that these challenges need a realistic approach of which accurate description is a starting point. The research contributes twofold with the first contribution being a clearer understanding of the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs and the second being a set of redefined and contextualised relationship indicators with which to define and measure this relationship. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In recent years the ideas of good governance and the responsibility of corporate South Africa to contribute to the society in which they operate have become an undeniable part of organisational conception. Indeed, South Africa is considered to be a leader in the field of corporate governance internationally. Forming part of governance practices is Corporate Social Investment (CSI) whereby corporate organisations contribute to causes and societal groupings in need of financial and other assistance. Among these societal groupings that receive support from CSI activities are non-profit organisations (NPOs) that rely on funding from their corporate donors for survival. Based on the exchange of funding and a shared attempt at social development, a relationship between the two parties emerges. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory, corporate organisations, through their CSI activities, and NPOs are stakeholders of each other and a positive relationship between them could strengthen their individual and collective goals. This study explored and described the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs in order to understand the state of the relationship and to critically consider the way in which the relationship is defined, described and measured. First, the relationship was explored by means of partially structured interviews based on well-known relationship indicators where it appeared that the relationship is not only fraught with negative perceptions from both sides, but also where the relationship indicators used to explore the relationship were not entirely suited for the specific context of this relationship. The negative perceptions and inappropriate relationship indicators formed the basis of a theoretical inquiry of literature on CSI, stakeholder relationships and participatory development communication. Subsequently, the partially structured interviews and the literature review informed the design of two corresponding survey questionnaires that could test both findings quantitatively. The results of validity and reliability testing confirmed the qualitative finding that a contextualised measurement is suited for this relationship. A mix of existing and newly formulated items grouped in contextual elements and redefined relationship indicators was used to describe the relationship. A combined analysis of qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the relationship is not as negative as the qualitative research might have suggested (possibly a result of contextualised measurement); but that very specific relational challenges are present and it is suggested that these challenges need a realistic approach of which accurate description is a starting point. The research contributes twofold with the first contribution being a clearer understanding of the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs and the second being a set of redefined and contextualised relationship indicators with which to define and measure this relationship. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014